1) A certain housemaid, who resided with Kaikeyi, went by chance to the roof of her mistress’s palace, which was a beautiful as the moon.
2) From her vantage point, Manthara [that being her name] beheld the royal road strewn with lotuses and lilies.
3) It was festooned with flags and costly banners, and was sprinkled with water perfumed with sandalwood, and crowds of men with freshly washed hair were gathered there.
4) The city was made noisy by prominent brahmanas, who carried garlands and sweetmeats, and the white doorways of the temples resounded with the vibrations of all manner of musical instruments.
5) The king’s road thronged with jubilant men and women and with brahmanas reciting the Veda, with intoxicated elephants and horses, and with bellowing bulls and lowing cows.
6) Seeing Ayodhya crowded with enraptured citizens and decorated with hoisted flags, Manthara was greatly astonished.
7) She noticed Lord Rama’s nurse standing close by, attired in white linen, her eyes wide with delight, and she questioned her as follows:
8) “Why, pray, is Rama’s mother donating riches to the people with extreme pleasure, though she is fond of accumulating wealth?
9) Tell me, why are the citizens so excessively joyful, and what is the delighted king having done?”
10-11) Bursting with joy, indeed, with ineffable happiness, the nurse informed the hunch- backed maid of the honour shortly to be conferred upon Lord Raghava, saying, “Tomorrow, when the moon is in Pushya, King Dasaratha will anoint Ramachandra, who has conquered anger and is sinless, heir-apparent!”
12) Having heard the nurse’s reply, Manthara immediately became indignant, and she descended from the roof of the palace, which resembled a peak of Mount Kailasa.
13) Perceiving mischief afoot, Manthara burned with rage, and she spoke as follows unto Queen Kaikeyi, who lay upon her couch.
14) “Arise, you fool! Why do you lie there? A grave danger threatens you. Do you not perceive yourself to be overwhelmed by a flood of misery?
15) Although he desires you not, you boast of your good fortune in the person of your spouse. Your joy is impermanent, like the flow of a stream in the summer heat!”
16) Being addressed by her hunch-backed servant- who saw only evil— with wrathful, piercing speech, Kaikeyi became greatly dismayed.
17) She therefore spoke to her maid, saying, “O Manthara, what ails you? Your face is downcast, and you appear extremely sorrowful.”
18) Hearing Kaikeyi’s sweet utterance, the enraged Manthara, who was expert in the art of speaking, replied as follows.
19-20) Indeed, becoming even angrier, and feigning despair as though she were the queen’s well-wisher, the hunchback contrived to alienate her mistress from Lord Raghava, saying, “Your Majesty, a great and irrevocable catastrophe is about to occur— King Dasaratha will shortly anoint Rama heir-apparent!
21) I am sunk in unfathomable terror, I am full of misery, and my mind burns as if with fire! I have come here for your sake only.
22) Your sorrow will cause me great un-happiness. Your prosperity is my prosperity— of that there is no doubt.
23) You were born in a royal family and you are an emperor’s queen— how is it you know not that kings are by nature cruel?
24) Though he makes a pretence of being righteous your husband is a pitiless rogue— yet you think him pure-hearted and are thus deceived by him.
25) When he stands beside you he speaks kind words devoid of meaning, for now he will endow Kausalya with riches, and not you!
26) “Your evil-minded husband has conveyed [your son] Bharata to His relatives— now that thorn is plucked from his side he will take the opportunity to have Rama installed upon the throne.
27) O childish one, the king is your enemy and he is your husband in name only. Like a mother intent on its well-being you have enclosed a poisonous serpent within your arms.
28) You and your son have been neglected by King Dasaratha today as though you were snakes or enemies.
29) Because you were lulled by the king’s falsely gentle speech, he will establish Rama upon the throne. Thus you, who are accustomed to constant happiness, are ruined, along with your family!
30) O perceptive one, quickly do that which will advance your interests and preserve you, your son, and myself from grave peril!”
31) Being thus addressed by Manthara, the beautiful queen rose from her couch with great joy, like a crescent moon rising in an autumnal sky.
32) Great indeed was the happiness of the astonished Kaikeyi, and she gifted the hunchback with a divine ornament.
33) Having given her that priceless jewellery she spoke to Manthara as follows.
34) “These are supremely happy tidings to me, O Manthara! I am delighted to hear such joyful tidings. What else shall I do for you?
35) I do not distinguish between Rama and Bharata, and I am therefore delighted that the emperor will anoint Rama successor to the throne.
36) No words more welcome, nor more nectarean could have been spoken to me. Therefore, O deserving one, ask, and I shall confer an unequalled boon upon you!”